1107.1 General. In cases specified in the rules of Section

1106.1, a refrigeration machinery room shall comply with the special requirements in accordance with Section 1107.1.1 through Section 1107.1.10, in addition to Section 1106.2.

236 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE

REFRIGERATION

1107.1.1 Flame-Producing Devices. There shall be no flame-producing device or continuously operating hot surface over 800°F (427°C) permanently installed in the room.

1107.1.2 Doors. Doors communicating with the building shall be approved, self-closing, tight-fitting fire doors.

1107.1.3 Walls, Floors, and Ceilings. Walls, floor, and ceiling shall be tight and of noncombustible construction. Walls, floor, and ceiling separating the refrigeration machinery room from other occupied spaces shall be not less than one-hour fire-resistive construction.

1107.1.4 Machinery Rooms. The refrigeration machinery room shall have a door that opens directly to the outdoors or through a vestibule equipped with selfclosing, tight-fitting doors. 1107.1.5 Exterior Openings. Exterior openings, where present, shall not be under a fire escape or an open stair way. 1107.1.6 Sealing. All pipes piercing the interior walls, ceiling, or floor of such rooms shall be tightly sealed to the walls, ceiling, or floor through which they pass. 1107.1.7 Group A2L and B2L Refrigerants. Where refrigerant of Groups A2L or B2L are used, the requirements of Class 1, Division 2, of the California Electrical Code, shall not apply to the machinery room provided that the conditions in Section 1107.1.7.1 through Section 1107.1.7.3 are met.

1107.1.7.1 Mechanical Ventilation. The mechanical ventilation system in the machinery room is run continuously in accordance with Section 1106.11.6.1 and failure of the mechanical ventilation system actuates an alarm, or the mechanical ventilation system in the machinery room is activated by one or more refrigerant detectors, in accordance with the requirements of Section 1106.11.11.

1107.1.7.2 Refrigeration Detectors. For the refrigerant detection required in Section 1106.2.5, detection of refrigerant concentration that exceeds 25 percent of the LFL or the upper detection limit of the refrigerant detector, whichever is lower, shall automatically de-energize the following equipment in the machinery room:

(1) refrigerant compressors

(2) refrigerant pumps

(3) normally-closed automatic refrigerant valves

1107.1.7.3 Machinery Rooms. The machinery room shall comply with Section 1106.11. 1107.1.8 Group A2, A3, B2, or B3 Refrigerants. Where any refrigerant of Groups A2, A3, B2, or B3 are used, the machinery room shall comply with Class 1, Division 2, of of the California Electrical Code .

1107.1.9 Refrigeration Systems. As part of the mechanical ventilation system in accordance with Section 1106.2.8, refrigeration systems that contain more

than 110 pounds (50 kg) of any Group A2L, A2, A3, B2L, B2, or B3, refrigerant shall have not less than one exhaust air inlet located adjacent to each system not more than 9 feet (3 m) away.

1107.1.10 Remote Control. Remote control of the

mechanical equipment in the refrigeration machinery room shall be provided immediately outside the machinery room door solely for the purpose of shutting down the equipment in an emergency. Ventilation fans shall be on a separate electrical circuit and have a control switch located immediately outside the machinery room door.